Ethyl Acetate

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Overview

What Is It?

Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate are clear liquids with a fruity odors. In cosmetics and personal care products, Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate are used in the formulation of nail polish, nail polish removers, basecoats, and other manicuring products.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate are primarily used as solvents in nail care products.

Scientific Facts:

Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate are used to dissolve other substances including nitrocellulose, the basic film-forming material in nail polish. Butyl acetate is found in many types of fruit, where along with other chemicals it imparts characteristic flavors. Apples, especially of the red delicious variety are flavored in part by this chemical.

Safety

Safety Information:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Ethyl Acetate on its list of substances considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use as a synthetic flavoring substance and adjuvant. It is also permitted to be used as a secondary food additive as a solvent, lubricant or release agent. FDA allows Butyl Acetate to be added to food as a synthetic flavoring substance and adjuvant. The safety of Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate were safe as cosmetic ingredients in the present practices of use and concentration. In 2006, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

More safety Information:

CIR Review: Doses of Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate much larger than those resulting from normal use of nail products containing these ingredients were needed to result in effects following oral, dermal or inhalation exposure. Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate were nonmutagenic when tested in bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells. Butyl Acetate did not cause developmental effects when inhaled. Ethyl Acetate and Butyl Acetate were mild skin irritants but not sensitizers to humans. Ethyl Acetate was neither phototoxic or photoallergenic in human tests.